In the late '70s and early '80s, King Crimson's Robert Fripp played lead guitar on a pair of David Bowie albums: 1977's "Heroes" and 1980's Scary Monsters. Now, Fripp says he's disputing his album credits with Bowie's estate, arguing that he should be credited on both efforts as a "featured player."
In a post on social media, Fripp claimed that Bowie's estate hasn't acknowledged him as a featured player due to rules of PPL, a U.K. music licensing company established in 1934. He wrote, "This accreditation as a Featured Player is supported by Brian Eno, Tony Visconti, David Bowie himself (although the terminology was not then in use), and the Court Of Public Opinion over four decades."
Fripp wrote, "The PPL's rules and MO perpetuate an historic injustice," and argued that "rules are not God-given laws to maintain the universe: they are created by people to organize and facilitate interactions in fair and equitable fashion; which in the nature of things, can never actually be foretold."
Turning his ire to the music industry, Fripp wrote, "Fifty-two years of direct, hands-on experience suggests to me that the majority of players who operate the system, operate the system to serve their own interests. There are a small number of players whose aim is ethical action in business; not directing the industry to promote their own personal interests; these assertions supported by decades of documentation."
Fripp and King Crimson are currently touring North America in celebration of their 50th anniversary. They also recently announced a reissue of their acclaimed debut album to mark the occasion.
Read Fripp's full post below. Read our Essential Guide to David Bowie here.
In a post on social media, Fripp claimed that Bowie's estate hasn't acknowledged him as a featured player due to rules of PPL, a U.K. music licensing company established in 1934. He wrote, "This accreditation as a Featured Player is supported by Brian Eno, Tony Visconti, David Bowie himself (although the terminology was not then in use), and the Court Of Public Opinion over four decades."
Fripp wrote, "The PPL's rules and MO perpetuate an historic injustice," and argued that "rules are not God-given laws to maintain the universe: they are created by people to organize and facilitate interactions in fair and equitable fashion; which in the nature of things, can never actually be foretold."
Turning his ire to the music industry, Fripp wrote, "Fifty-two years of direct, hands-on experience suggests to me that the majority of players who operate the system, operate the system to serve their own interests. There are a small number of players whose aim is ethical action in business; not directing the industry to promote their own personal interests; these assertions supported by decades of documentation."
Fripp and King Crimson are currently touring North America in celebration of their 50th anniversary. They also recently announced a reissue of their acclaimed debut album to mark the occasion.
Read Fripp's full post below. Read our Essential Guide to David Bowie here.